Filing case



1959 J. c. P. CAMUS 2,884,727

FILING CASE Filed Jan. 25, 1956 F/GZ lnven/or Jean Charles Paul CamusUnited States Patent,

FILING CASE Jean Charles Paul Camus, Paris, France Application January23, 1956, Serial No. 560,826 Claims priority, application France January21, 1955 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-156) This invention relates to filing casesand more particularly to a filing case in which documentary material maynot only be collected and stored, but also displayed, to which use,however, the invention is not restricted.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for the filing orstoring of plans, maps, pictures, photographs and the like which alsoserves as a frame for displaying the outermost material filed therein.Desirably, the device should be compact in size, light in weight andeasily accessible to the user for insertion or withdrawal of documentswithout the necessity of removing the device from a supporting surface.In addition the combination filing case and display frame must be ofsimple, sturdy, dependable construction.

I have now invented a case, the features of which embody the abovestated objects in providing an improved device for both filing anddisplaying flat documents. A preferred embodiment of this inventioncomprises a sturdy box-like frame which may be fabricated to any desiredsize to meet specific requirements. Movable folding extensions acting asoperative molding strips are hinged to one or more sides of the framestructure so that when the extensions are folded inwardly, documents aresecurely retained within the case and when opened outwardly, access isafforded to the interior of the case for insertion or withdrawal ofcontents therefrom.

The case may be reinforced by a rigid back which can be secured to orwithin the frame structure by a second set of folding extensionspivotally attached to the rear portion of the frame.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of thisinvention will be made more apparent from the following descriptionwherein reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is front elevation of a filing case showing the manner in whichthe extensions may be opened or locked in closed position to retain andframe material stored therein; and

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of a storage case such as isillustrated in Fig. 1 showing a rigid backing sheet retained by a secondset of retaining extensions.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show a receptacle or storagecase 12, having a body of open frame construction composed of four sideportions 11, 12, 13 and 14 of optional dimensions, here shown miterjoined in the usual manner. The front of the case is designated 15 andthe rear 16.

The case is closed by a series of inwardly folding extensions 18 severalof which may be pivotally attached to the sides of the body portion asby hinges 17'. It may be preferable to have the lower extension integralwith the case. The extensions when closed form moulding strips for theframe, the ends of which are cut for lap joint mating engagement usuallyat the corners, though center joining may be preferable in someinstances. This 2,884,727 Patented May 5, 1959 "ice , 2 construction.not only provides a flush surface on the front of the case to form anattractive frame for stored material, but the extensions are arranged tointerlock like shutters so thattheside extensions overlie thebottomextension, and the top extension overlies. the side extensions toprovide the retaining moulding when in closed position.

Advantageously, the rear or opposite side of the case can be arranged sothat the extensions lock in a vertical or upright position thusaffording appropriate framing for both horizontal and vertical picturesby merely reversing the frame.

If a square-jointed frame (not shown) is used for the case, the cornersor retaining strips 18 are cut for straight overlap joining in the samemanner as in the mitered frame illustrated.

Extensions 18 may be hinged to the outer edges of the body portion toobtain varied desired effects, but in this instance wide extensionsoverlying the side portions must necessarily be used in order to form aretaining edge for the documentary, pictorial and other flat materialstored in the case.

It may in some instances be preferable to use two right-angledextensions to close the case, each such extension being pivotallyattached to the frame along one side thereof.

A sheet of transparent material can be optionally retained in the faceand/or rear of the case for protection and inspection of displayedmaterial.

As stated above, the rear of the filing case 16 may be similarlyconstructed to the face 15 with operable extensions 18, so that materialmay be inserted and displayed from both the front and rear of the case.However, it may be preferred to reinforce the frame by a rigid backcover 19. In this instance, apertures 22, 22 may be made in the backcover through which the con-- tents can be pushed forward toward theopen face portion 15 in order to remove selected material withoutdefacing it. The cover may be removably positioned inside the case asshown in Fig. 2, be fixedly or releasably attached to the rear of thecase as desired.

The corners of the extensions 18 are accurately fitted so that whenclosed, they remain in frictional interlocked engagement. However,additional securing means 23 could be used if required.

In operation, the controlling or uppermost extension 18 in unfolded fromits closed position to release one or more side strips for access to thefiling case. If advantageously hung upon a wall or other appropriatesurface, access may be had without removing the case from the support.

The forms of the invention here described and illustrated are presentedmerely as examples of how the invention may be embodied and applied.Other forms, embodiments and applications of the invention, comingWithin the proper scope of the appended claim, will, of course, suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

A case for storing stiff, fiat material comprising a box, one side ofsaid box having an open frame, extensions pivotally attached to saidframe adapted to fold inwardly thereof to enclose said material andprovide moulding for said frame to display the foremost materialtherein, said moulding extending inwardly from and forming a part of oneside of said frame, the outer surface of one of said extensions beingmitered at both corners to form an inner triangular portion, extensionsprojecting inwardly from and forming a part of the sides adjoining thefirst mentioned side of said frame, the inner surface of said secondmentioned extensions being mitered at one end to 61151 outer triangularportions for mating engagement with said inner triangular portions, theouter surface at the opposite end of said second mentioned extensionsbeing mitered to -form inner triangular portions, and an extensionprojectinginwardly from and forming-a part of the remaining side of saidframe being mitered on the inner surface of. each corner to form outer.triangular portions for mating engagement with said inner triangularportions on said adjoining extensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Robeyet a1. f Feb. 20, 1912 Hull Mar. 13, 1923 Parda Apr. 26, 1927 SimanekMar. 21, 1933 Schultz Nov. 16, 1937,

